Balljoint

ABSTRACT

The present invention pertains to a ball-and-socket joint, especially for steering mechanisms and/or wheel suspensions of motor vehicles, with a ball pivot ( 1 ), which is accommodated rotatably and tiltably in a one-part or multipart bearing shell ( 4 ) within a joint housing ( 7 ), wherein the bearing shell ( 4 ) is fixed in the joint housing by a closing ring ( 9 ), wherein a metallic compressible element ( 18 ), which provides a sealing contact surface between the joint housing ( 7 ) and the closing ring ( 9 ) in the assembled state of the ball-and-socket joint, is arranged between the closing ring ( 9 ) and the joint housing ( 7 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a ball-and-socket joint, especiallyfor steering mechanisms and/or wheel suspensions of motor vehicles, witha pivot pin, which is accommodated rotatably and tiltably in a one-partor multipart bearing shell within a joint housing, wherein the bearingshell is fixed in the joint housing by a closing ring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various designs and sizes of ball-and-socket joints of this typedescribed in the introduction are used in large numbers in allindustrial areas, especially also in the automobile industry. Suchball-and-socket joints are usually manufactured by first inserting thebearing shell together with the pivot pin in the joint housing through amounting opening. The joint housing is subsequently closed by a closingring, which is connected to the joint housing in a positive-lockingmanner by means of a rolling operation. The problem that the closingring, which shall also position the bearing shell in the joint housingin a nonrotatable manner at the same time, will not come into contactwith a shoulder of the joint housing, which is provided for thatpurpose, due to existing tolerances, will sometimes occur during themounting steps described, especially concerning the connection betweenthe closing ring and the joint housing. This problem inevitably leads tothe formation of a housing gap, through which moisture as well ascontaminants may possibly enter the interior of the joint ball after thecompletion of the manufacturing process, because the positive-lockingconnection established by the rolling operation between the closing ringand the joint housing cannot assume an absolute sealing function.Penetrating moisture as well as contaminants lead to increased frictionin the ball-and-socket joint and possibly reduce the service life of theball-and-socket joint affected in an extremely lasting manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Based on the described drawbacks of the state of the art, the object ofthe present invention is to rule out a reduction of the service life asa consequence of penetrating moisture and contaminants and to achieve animproved tolerance compensation during the mounting of theball-and-socket joint in a ball-and-socket joint of this class by animproved sealing protection between the closing ring and the jointhousing.

According to the invention, a ball-and-socket joint is provided,especially for steering mechanisms and/or wheel suspensions of motorvehicles. The joint has a pivot pin, which is accommodated rotatably andtiltably in a one-part or multipart bearing shell within a jointhousing. The bearing shell is fixed by a closing ring in the jointhousing. A metallic compressible element provides a sealing contactsurface between the joint housing and the closing ring in the assembledstate of the ball-and-socket joint. The metallic compressible element isarranged between the closing ring and the joint housing.

The technical teaching disclosed is characterized especially in that themetallic compressible element, which ensures a sealing contact surfacebetween the joint housing and the closing ring in the assembled state ofthe ball-and-socket joint, is arranged between the closing ring and thejoint housing. The compressible element mentioned is deformed during thepressing-in operation to establish the positive-locking connectionbetween the joint housing and the closing ring such that a metalliccontact is always established between the components of theball-and-socket joint to be connected to one another under all giventolerance conditions. Moreover, an additional axial support of theclosing ring on the joint housing can be brought about because of thespecial shape of the compressible element.

It proved to be especially advantageous for accomplishing the object todesign the compressible element as a sealing lip extendingconcentrically peripherally. The peripheral sealing lip is arrangedprojectingly at an axial cross-sectional area of the closing ring or ofthe housing. This design makes possible an especially simple manufactureof the compressible element, because this can be formed together withthe joint housing or the closing ring in one operation. Thedeformability of the compressible element and the sealing actionresulting therefrom can be optimized by the compressible elementdesigned as a sealing lip being designed to have such a cross-sectionalshape that its width is very much smaller than the height projectingover the axial cross-sectional area.

The compressible element itself may be arranged both at the closing ringand at the joint housing, depending on what other geometric conditionsthat are to be taken into account during the manufacture and themounting.

An exemplary embodiment of the subject of the present invention will beexplained in greater detail below. The various features of novelty whichcharacterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a betterunderstanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specificobjects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a ball-and-socket jointaccording to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the partial area according to the presentinvention from FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a closing ring with a compressible elementformed as a part thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings in particular, the ball-and-socket joint shownin FIG. 1 comprises a pivot pin 1, which has in the known manner a pivotarea 2 and a joint ball 3 made in one piece with it. The pivot pin 1 ismounted with its joint ball 3 in a bearing shell 4 made of an elasticmaterial. The inner contour of the bearing shell 4 is adapted to thejoint ball 3. The bearing shell 4 has on its outer contour a cylindricaljacket surface 5 as well as a jacket surface 6, which forms an angle ofabout 45° in relation to the cylindrical jacket surface 5. With thejacket surfaces 5 and 6 the bearing shell 4 is accommodated in a jointhousing 7. The joint housing 7 is closed at the upper, joint ball-sideend of the pivot pin 1 and has on its opposite side an opening 8,through which the bearing shell 4 can be introduced into the jointhousing 7 together with the pivot pin 1. Once the components mentionedhave been mounted in the place intended for them during themanufacturing operation, the opening 8 of the joint housing 7 is closedby means of a closing ring 9.

The closing ring 9 has a rotationally symmetrical form with an annularcore area 10 as well as two end areas 11 and 12 of different shapes. Thetwo end areas 11 and 12 project in the direction of the pivot area 2 aswell as the area of the joint ball 3. The end area 11 is used to receivea sealing or rubber bellows 13, which is accommodated in a peripheralgroove 14 of the closing ring 9 and is used to seal the pivot area 2against the joint ball area 3 within the joint housing 7.

The opposite end area 12 is in contact with a peripheral shoulder of thebearing shell 4 with its free end designed as a shoulder 15 and fixessame within the joint housing 7 in the axial direction. During themounting of the pivot pin 1 together with the bearing shell 4 in thejoint housing 7, the closing ring 9 closes the opening 8 after theintroduction of the aforementioned components and is fixed within thejoint housing 7 by means of a suitable pressing-in or rolling tool. Aperipheral rolled edge 16, with which a surface of the outwardlyprojecting core area 10 of the closing ring 9 comes into contact, isprepared at the lower end of the joint housing facing the pivot area 2within the framework of the rolling operation. The axial fixation of theclosing ring 9 in the opposite axial direction is performed as describedabove by bringing the closing ring 9 into contact with the shoulder ofthe bearing shell 4.

As is apparent from FIG. 1, a gap 17, which is closed according to thepresent invention by means of a compressible element 18, is presentbetween the joint housing 7 and the closing ring 9 after the mounting.The compressible element 18 is part of the joint housing 7 and projectsover an axial sealing and radially extending cross-sectional area 19. Asan alternative to this, the compressible element may also be arranged atthe opposite axial sealing radially extending surface 20 of the closingring 9. An essential task of the compressible element 18 is to seal thegap 17 between the joint housing 7 and the closing ring 9. This isachieved by the metallic contact of the compressible element with theparticular axial surface located opposite, which is in turn broughtabout by a slight deformation of the compressible element within theframework of the rolling operation during the closing of theball-and-socket joint.

The special shape of the compressible element 18 becomes clear from thedetail in FIG. 2. The compressible element 18 has the shape of a sealinglip, whose width is substantially smaller than the height projectingover the radially extending cross-sectional area 19 of the joint housing7. Due to this geometric shape and the selected height of the sealinglip or compressible element 18, due to which the closing ring 9 comesinto contact first at the sealing lip or compressible element 18 andwith the shoulder 15 of the bearing shell 4 only thereafter after thedeformation of the sealing lip or compressible element 18 within theframework of the rolling operation during the manufacture, a metallicstop is always guaranteed between the joint housing 7 and the closingring 9 and a sealing function is thus brought about. Due to the smallwidth of the compressible element 18, no special additional force isneeded for the deformation of the compressible element 18, whichdeformation of the compressible element 18 is necessary during therolling operation.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

1. A ball-and-socket joint, comprising: a joint housing having a crosssectional area with a surface; a bearing shell disposed in said housing;a ball pivot with a ball and a pivot portion, said ball beingaccommodated rotatably and tiltably in said bearing shell within saidjoint housing; a closing ring having a surface substantially parallel tosaid cross sectional area surface, said bearing shell being fixed bysaid closing ring in said joint housing; a metallic compressible elementformed as a part of said joint housing, said metallic compressibleelement providing a sealing contact surface between said joint housingand said closing ring, said metallic compressible element being arrangedbetween said closing ring surface and said cross sectional area surface.2. A ball-and-socket joint in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidcompressible element comprises a peripheral sealing lip connected tosaid joint housing.
 3. A ball-and-socket joint in accordance with claim2, wherein said peripheral sealing lip is arranged projectingly at asaid cross-sectional area of said joint housing.
 4. A ball-and-socketjoint in accordance with claim 2, wherein the cross-sectional shape ofsaid sealing lip is designed such that its width is very much smallerthan its height projecting over a cross-sectional area of said sealinglip.
 5. A ball-and-socket joint in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidcompressible element is arranged as a projection formed integral withsaid housing and extending axially from a said surface of said jointhousing.
 6. A ball-and- socket joint in accordance with claim 1, whereinsaid joint housing has a cross sectional area with a surfaceperpendicular to an axial direction of said housing and said closingring has a surface facing said cross sectional area surface andperpendicular to the axial direction of said housing, said metalliccompressible element being arranged between said closing ring surfaceand said cross sectional area surface.
 7. A ball-and-socket joint inaccordance with claim 1, wherein: said joint housing defines an openingwith said ball pivot extending through said opening; said surface ofsaid joint housing is perpendicular to an axial direction of saidhousing and facing said opening; said surface of said closing ring facessaid cross sectional area surface and is perpendicular to the axialdirection of said housing.
 8. A ball-and-socket joint, comprising: ajoint housing defining an opening and having a cross sectional area witha radially extending surface facing said opening; a bearing shelldisposed in said housing; a ball pivot with a ball and a pivot portion,said ball being accommodated rotatably and tiltably in said bearingshell within said joint housing, said ball pivot extending through saidopening; a closing ring, said bearing shell being fixed by said closingring in said joint housing, said closing ring having a radiallyextending surface substantially parallel to said radially extendingsurface of said cross sectional area; a metallic compressible elementproviding a sealing contact surface between said joint housing and saidclosing ring, said metallic compressible element being arranged betweensaid closing ring surface and said radially extending surface of saidcross sectional area.
 9. A ball-and-socket joint in accordance withclaim 8, wherein said compressible element is formed integral with saidhousing and extending axially from said cross sectional area radiallyextending surface.
 10. A ball-and-socket joint in accordance with claim9, wherein a gap is provided between said closing ring surface and saidcross sectional area surface, said metallic compressible element beingarranged in said gap, said metallic compressible element being axiallydeformed in said gap.
 11. A ball-and-socket joint in accordance withclaim 8, wherein said metallic compressible element has a shape of asealing lip having a width substantially smaller than a height of saidcompressible element extending from said cross sectional area surfaceand said closing ring contacts a shoulder of said bearing shell.
 12. Aball-and-socket joint in accordance with claim 8, wherein said metalliccompressible element extends axially from said radially extendingsurface of said cross sectional area.
 13. A ball-and-socket joint inaccordance with claim 12, wherein a gap is provided between said closingring surface and said radially extending surface of said cross sectionalarea, said metallic compressible element being arranged in said gap. 14.A ball-and-socket joint in accordance with claim 12, wherein saidmetallic compressible element is formed as part of said dosing ring. 15.A ball-and-socket joint, comprising: a joint housing defining anopening; a bearing shell disposed in said housing; a ball pivot with aball and a pivot portion, said ball being accommodated rotatably andtiltably in said bearing shell within said joint housing; a closingring, said bearing shell being fixed by said closing ring in said jointhousing; a metallic compressible element providing a sealing contactsurface extending between a surface of said closing ring and a surfaceof said housing, said compressible element being deformed in an axialdirection between said surface of said joint housing and said surface ofsaid closing ring to restrict the passage of moisture and contaminantsbetween said surface of said joint housing and said surface of saidclosing ring; wherein said joint housing has a cross sectional area witha surface and said closing ring has a surface substantially parallel tosaid cross sectional area surface, said metallic compressible elementbeing arranged extending in an axial direction between said closing ringsurface and said cross sectional area surface to restrict passage ofmoisture and contaminants in a radial direction between said crosssectional area surface and said closing ring surface.
 16. Aball-and-socket joint in accordance with claim 15, wherein a gap isprovided between a closing ring surface and a cross sectional areasurface of said housing, said metallic compressible element beingarranged in said gap, wherein said metallic compressible element has ashape of a sealing lip having a width substantially smaller than aheight of said compressible element extending from said cross sectionalarea surface and said closing ring contacts a shoulder of said bearingshell.
 17. A ball-and-socket joint in accordance with claim 15, whereinsaid compressible element is formed integral with said housing andextends axially from said cross sectional area surface.
 18. Aball-and-socket joint, comprising: a joint housing having a crosssectional area with a surface perpendicular to an axial direction ofsaid housing; a bearing shell disposed in said housing; a ball pivotwith a bail and a pivot portion, said ball being accommodated rotatablyand tiltably in said bearing shell within said joint housing; a closingring having a surface facing said cross sectional area surface andperpendicular to the axial direction of said housing, said bearing shellbeing fixed by said closing ring in said joint housing; a metalliccompressible element formed as a part of said joint housing, saidmetallic compressible element providing a scaling contact surfacebetween said joint housing and said closing ring, said metalliccompressible element being arranged between said closing ring surfaceand said cross sectional area surface.
 19. A ball-and-socket joint inaccordance with claim 18, wherein: said joint housing defines an openingwith said ball pivot extending through said opening; and said crosssectional area surface faces said opening.
 20. A ball-and-socket jointin accordance with claim 18, wherein a gap is provided between saidclosing ring surface and said cross sectional area surface, saidmetallic compressible element being arranged in said gap.
 21. Aball-and-socket joint in accordance with claim 20, wherein said metalliccompressible element has a shape of a sealing lip having a widthsubstantially smaller than a height of said compressible elementextending from said cross sectional area surface and said closing ringcontacts a shoulder of said bearing shell.
 22. A ball-and-socket joint,comprising: a joint housing defining an opening and having a crosssectional area with a radially extending surface facing said opening; abearing shell disposed in said housing; a ball pivot with a ball and apivot portion, said ball being accommodated rotatably and tiltably insaid bearing shell within said joint housing, said ball pivot extendingthrough said opening; a closing ring, said bearing shell being fixed bysaid dosing ring in said joint housing, said closing ring having aradially extending surface facing said radially extending surface ofsaid cross sectional area, a metallic compressible element providing asealing contact surface between said joint housing and said closingring, said metallic compressible element being arranged between saidclosing ring surface and said radially extending surface of said crosssectional area said metallic compressible element being formed as partof said closing ring and extending axially from said radially extendingsurface of said closing ring.
 23. A ball-and-socket joint in accordancewith claim 22, wherein a gap is provided between said radially extendingsurface of said closing ring and said radially extending surface of saidcross sectional area, said metallic compressible element being arrangedin said gap.